Steering mechanism.



T. J. NASH.

STEERiNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1910. v

Patgnfed 0011. 24:, 1916.

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1 new lt a if orat on,

THOHL FRS J. "NASH. LING/0111b? NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOl-t TO NASHMANUFACTURING GOIlfiIPANY.

STEEETENG MECI-IANISIM.

mailman-WM menace,

, Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented (lot. 241, 191%.

Application filed January 4, 1916. .Serial No. 70,195.

certain new and useful improvements in f teering Mechanism, of which thefollow ing is a specification. I

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steeringapparatus of the irreversible type in which the road shocks of thesteered wheels are not transmitted to the operators hand wheel to turnthe same.

'lhe inventiondn its genome nature 1s somewhat of the so-called wormgear type of steeiing apparatus, although (littering therefron'i in theparticular COIlSlZlllCtlOl'l of the connection between the crank shaftand the steering post shaft, 7 I

In its generic nature, the invention comprises a supporting housing inbearings in which the steering post shaft is ournaled, the housing alsohaving bearings for a crank shaft to which the ball arm that connectswith the connecting rod of the steering gear is secured, the crank shaftbeing journalcd in bearings in the housing to turn on an axis preferablyat right angles to the axis of the steering post rod, there being aspecial worm connection between the steering post shaft and the crankshaft whereby the turning of the steer ng post shaft will have itsmotion directly translated and imparted to the crank shaft.

in its more specific nature the invention includes what l-term agloboidspnal connectien between the steering post shaft and the crankshaft whereby the use of theorclinary worm gears may be eliminatedWlllh: out the addition of a greater number of structural parts than thenumber of those eliminated.

In its specific nature, theinvention further includesthose novel detailsof construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, all of which willbe first fully described, then be specifically po nted out in theappended claims and 1llustrated 1n the aceom 'ianying drawings, in Wlncl1:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a steering post shaft,together w th the parts constituting my invention. F1g,'2 1s a crosssection on the line 22 of l ig l, looking in the direction of the arrow.1* 1g. 3' is a vertical longitudinal section on. the

line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken substantially onthe line 4% of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail View of a modification of theinvention.

In the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all of the figures, 1 represents the steering post shaft I and 2designates a globular enlargement made either integrally with the shaft1 or. as a separate element pinned or keyed thereto, as indicated at 5in Fig. 5. The ball 2 is provided with a spiral cut groove 3 of thedesired length, the groove 3 being of uniform depth whereby the bottomsurface of the groove is in a plane normal to the radius of the ball atany particular middle point in the groove, thus the spiral is not acommon worm having a cylindrical bottomed groove but a worm having aspherical bottomed groove and I have therefore termed this agloboid-spiral as most nearly descriptive of the curvature involved.Instead of having a single groove 3, a double groove may be provided,the web 3 of which forming a globoid-spiral thread, as it were, (seeFig. 5).

The shaft 1 hasits end a journaled in a bearing bore 5 in a removablecap 13 that is threaded at 12 into the casing 6 and is pro vided with anut-like portion It by means of which it can be conveniently turned,there being a ball thrust bearing recess 16 formed in the cap 13 and inthe end of the shaft 4 to receive the thrust bearing ball 17.

The housing 6 has an elongated neck 7 to form the principal bearing forthe shaft 1 and from the neck 7 the bracket extensions S 9 11 a -eprojected the portions 9 and 11 of the bracket lying in planes at rightangles to each other and are provided with holes 10 through which thedevice may be bolted to the frame of the vehicle. I

' Thecasing 6 has a projection 18 that is provided with a recess toreceive the ball lugs 38 27 and which bearing is located in the pocket24 of the removable cap '23 that is threaded at 22 into the top ofcasing 6. The crank shaft has a tapered extension. 80 to Which thesocket 33 of the ball arm 35 is pivoted, the parts being keyed togeth ras at 34 and held by a nut 32 threaded on the end 31 of the taperedshank 30, the arm 35 carries the ball 36 to 'Which the socket 0f thesteering rod (not shown) may be attached.

The yoke 37 is provided with one or more (the number depending uponwhether the globoidspiral consists of a single groove 3, as shown inFig. 3, or a plural groove 3, as shown in Fig; 5} and the lug 38projects into the groove 3 whereby as the shaft 1 is turned one Way oranother, the yoke 38 will be moved on the axis of the trunnions 2S-29toward or from the axis of the shaft 1, the lug 38 following the groove3 as the ball 2 is turned.

It will be noticed that by reason of the formation of theglohoid-spiral, the lug 38 will always be at the same distance from thecenter of the ball 2, and hence it is possible to transmit motion fromthe shaft 1 to the crank shaft by the direct connection 5-38 described.The casing 6 is also provided with a pocket 40 in which a combinedcollar and thrust ball bearing 41 is located, the shaft 1 having a cone39 (formed on or fixedly secured to the shaft 1 in any de sired Way)which cone 39 serves as a thrust collar to take up the end thruston theshaft 1 in an upward direction, While the ball 17 takes up the endthrust on the shaft 1. a

inen ts than otl lower direction.

v The construction illustrated in the accord panying drawings is but oneform of the invention and has been designed for attachment to theWell-known Ford. car. It should, however, he understood that changes inthe details of construction, arrangement of casing and bearing elements,etc, proportion of parts and mechanical details of the some may bealtered or varied to suitthe particular car on which the invention is tobe employed.

It will he noticed that with the construetion shown in order to assemblethe parts, caps 23 and 13 are removed, the shaft 1. introduced throughthe opening provided by the removal of the cap 13 and the crank I shaftintroduced'fthrough the opening left by the removal of the cap 23.

While the hall hearings may be dispensed with and the shafts jou nled inordinary longhearings, nevertliel I prefer tin-icon.- structionillustrated for the reason that it admits of shorter shaft parts and amore compact arrangement of the refiner-sting; cleanus instance, the armis extending: in the same general direction as the shaft: 1, but byturning shaft half O\ -r in a right hand or left hand direction, thecrank shaft may he moved on its axis to one side or the other to effectthe steering act, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4-, as will bereadily umlorstood by reference to the drawings.

a From the foregoing description taken in connection with theaccompanying draw arm secured on said cranlz' shaft. .1 gloliohh Lspiral slot and pin connection between said shafts, said shafts havingtheir axes intersecting and normal to one another.

3. In a steering nnzchanisin, a casing, :1 steering post shaft, hearing;elements in the casing for sustaining said shaft, a hall on said shafthaving a spiral groove in its surface, a crank shaft having trunnions,bearmg elements carried by said casing for said trunnic an arm on saidcrank shaft, and :1

by so id crank shaft to engage in said. groove whereby the motion ofsaid steering post shaft Will be directly transmitted to said crankshaft.

i. In a steering mechanism. a casing, steering post shaft, hearingelements in the casing for Si taining said shaft. :1 ball on said shaftha me; a. spira groove in its sur face, a crank shaft having trunnions.hearing' elements carried by said casing for said trunnions, an arm onsaid crank shaft, :1 pin carried on said crank shaft to engage in saidgroove whereby the motion of said steering post shaft will he dire-Hytransmitted to said crank shaft, said bearing elements including thrusthearing members.

5. In a steering meclnmism, a casing, a steeringpost shaft journaled inthe said casing, a crank shaft journaled in said casmg, arm secured onsaid crank shaft. :1 Q'lOhOlCl-SDil'fll slot and pin connection. letween said shafts, said casing having openings closed by removablesections through which the respective shafts may be introduced.

(raising for sus shaft having a .nl groove in its sur- Irace, a crankshaft aviv trimnions, bearincense ing elements carried by said casingfor said trunnions, an arm on said crank shaft,-and a pin carried bysaid crank shaft to engage in said groove whereby the motion of saidsteering post shaft will be directly transmitted to said crank shaft,said bearing elements including thrust bearing members, said casinghaving openings closed by re movable sections through which therespective shafts may be introduced.

7 A steering mechanism composed of a supporting casing, a steering postshaft, and a crank shaft having an arm, said shafts being journaled toturn on axes at right angles to one another, said shafts having a directgloboid-spiral pin and slot power transmitting engagement with oneanother.

8. A steering mechanism comprising a supporting casing, a steering postshaft and a crank shaft, said shafts journaled to turn on differentaxes, a globoid-spiral member on one of said shafts and a member on theother shaft for engaging said globoid-spiral member.

9. In a steering mechanism, a casing, a steering post shaft journaled insaid casing, a crank shaft journalcd in said casing, an arm secured onsaid crank shaft, a globular member on said steering post shaft haw inga spiral groove in its surface, the bottom of the groove being of equalradius throughout and Whose radius of curvature extends from the centerof said globular member, a pin on said crank shaft to engage said slotsubstantially as shown and de;

scribed. v

10. In a device of the character stated, a

shaft, a globoid-opiral element on said shaft,

and a member in operative engagement with said spiral element, 4

'rnearas a. man.

